Adjustable brace for slat and wire and picket fences



(No Model.)

T. H. SMITH. ADJUSTABLE BEACH FOR S'LAT AND WIRE AND PIGKBT FENCES.

No. 478,027. Patented June 28, 1892.

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UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. SMITH, OF OWOSSO, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE BRACE FOR SLAT AND 'WIR E AND PICKET FENC ES.

SPEC IFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 478,027, dated June 28,1892.

Application filed January 16, 1892. Serial No. 418,308. (No model.) I

-To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,THOMAS H. SMITH, acitizen of the United States, and aresident-of Owosso, in the county of Shiawassee and State and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,

and to letters of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

Figurel of the drawings is a side elevation of the fence and braces, andFig. 2 is an end View of the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inadjustable fence braces and anchors; and it consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a fence-sectioncomprising the sup porting-posts B and the pickets a, the latter beingheld together in the usual manner by the intertwisted looped wires 1).

The letters 0 C designate the adjustable brace-wires for thepicket-sections, secured at their ends to the end posts and extendingalong the fence; crossing each other diagonally at intervals and passingthrough loops or eyes 0 on the posts and pickets. These wires are passedaround tightening'pins or posts D, the ends of which are squared topermit the application of a crank or wrench by means of which the slackmay be readily and quickly taken up.

Where a post is subjected to any extra strain, as in the case of acorner or gate post, I provide an adjustable anchor therefor, which willnow be described.

E designates a wire or cable, the ends of which pass in to the groundand are made fast to a large stone or anchor, (illustrated at F.) Theintermediate portion of the wire or cable, or that portion above theground, is formed with a V-shaped loop, and through this loop is passed.a second wire or cable G, the ends of which are secured to a tighteningpin or peg G in the post. By the application of a wrench or crank thispin may be turned until the post is sufficiently braced. The ends of thewire are then made fast in any suitablemanner. If any slack subsequentlyoccurs, the wrench may be applied and the wires or cable retightened.

For the purpose of keeping the posts in vertical position and to preventtheir settling sidewise out of alignment truss-wires H H are provided,which are secured to the upper portions of the end posts and areconnected to or pass through eyes on the intermediate posts and wiresextending along the fence and being crossed between each pair of ad ja.cent posts. These wires are applied in a taut condition by means ofawire-stretcher. They may be tightened between each pair of posts byplacing a block of wood between the wires and sliding it toward thepoint where they cross.

Having described this invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is"

1. The combination, with a fence-post, of the anchor thereforunderground, the wire or cable secured thereto at its ends and havingits intermediate portion above ground in the shape of a V-shaped loop, asecond wire or cable secured to the post at one end, looped through saidV-shaped loop and back to the post, and a tightening peg or pin in thepost, around which said wire passes, substantially as specified.

2. A fence or fence-section comprising the supporting-posts, the picketsor slats held together by intertwisted looped wires 12, secured to saidposts, the brace-wires O O, secured to the end posts and passing looselythrough loops or eyes on the intermediate posts .and pickets, said wiresextending along one side of the fence in opposite zigzag courses andcrossing each other at intervals, the pegs or pins for tightening saidwires, and the trussbraoes comprising wires secured at their ends to theend posts of the fence or fence-section and connected to or passingthrough eyes or loops in the upper portions of the intermediate posts,said wires extendinghorizontally above the upper ends of the pickets andintercrossing each other between eachadjacent pair of posts,substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. SMITH. Witnesses:

E. L. BREWER, GEORGE F. ROBINSON.

